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Xorn

Medium Elemental, neutral

CR 5

1,800 XP

AC: 19 (natural armor)
HP: 73 (7d8+42)
Speed: walk 20 ft. , burrow 20 ft.
Skills: Perception +6, Stealth +3
Senses: darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 16
Languages: Terran
STR
17
+3
DEX
10
+0
CON
22
+6
INT
11
+0
WIS
10
+0
CHA
11
+0

Special Abilities

Earth Glide

The xorn can burrow through nonmagical, unworked earth and stone. While doing so, the xorn doesn't disturb the material it moves through.

Stone Camouflage

The xorn has advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks made to hide in rocky terrain.

Treasure Sense

The xorn can pinpoint, by scent, the location of precious metals and stones, such as coins and gems, within 60 ft. of it.

Actions

Multiattack

The xorn makes three claw attacks and one bite attack.

Bite

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (3d6 + 3) piercing damage.

Claw

Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage.

Quick Reference

Challenge: CR 5
Type: Elemental
Size: Medium
Alignment: neutral
Best for party of 4 at level 8-10

Running This Encounter

Xorns are strange, alien creatures that burrow through stone and earth as easily as water. Use the Burrow ability to create dynamic positioning, emerging unexpectedly to attack and then retreating underground. Leverage the Xorn's unaligned nature and alien intelligence—it pursues food and treasure without mercy or mercy. Have it attack in phases, burrowing away when heavily damaged to hunt again later.

Combat Tactics

The Xorn prioritizes stealing treasure and magical items, using hit-and-run tactics with its burrow speed. It uses its multiple attacks to focus fire on one target, then retreats underground (using Burrow) when threatened, re-emerging for surprise attacks. The creature ignores social interaction and fights to the death only for food or treasure it obsesses over.

Environment & Setting

Underground caverns, mines, or the Underdark rich with gemstones and precious metals. A treasure vault or dragon's hoard chamber makes an ideal battleground where the Xorn's motivations become clear.